Flights from Bordeaux to Spain from 22EUR*

Flights to Spain from Bordeaux

From Bordeaux, Vueling flies direct to 21 destinations in Spain. Barcelona is just over an hour away and Madrid around an hour and a half, so you can leave on Friday afternoon and still have the whole weekend.

Spain is really several countries in one. The decision that shapes the trip is which of them you head for: city Spain, the Mediterranean, the islands or the Atlantic north, which has far more in common with Aquitaine than anyone expects.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain and France are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so French and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa or extra paperwork.

Even though there are no border checks between the two countries, you must carry your documents with you throughout the trip and make sure they have not expired before you book. If you are travelling with children or on a passport from a non-EU country, check your case on the travel documents page before confirming.

What to know when you land in Spain

From the airport into town. The main airports are well connected, so there is no need to book a transfer. In Barcelona, metro line 9 Sud and the Aerobús reach the centre in under half an hour. In Madrid, the metro and Cercanías commuter trains link the terminals with Atocha. In Malaga, the commuter train serves the city centre and the Costa del Sol, and in Palma the shuttle bus covers the 8 km to the old town.

Mealtimes. This is the biggest change from France. Lunch in Spain is between 14:00 and 16:00 and dinner starts from 21:00, with many kitchens closed until then. At 19:30 a restaurant will be empty or shut, so plan your first day around it.

High-speed rail. Madrid and Barcelona are around 2 and a half hours apart, and lines from Madrid run to Seville, Malaga and Valencia. The stations are right in the city centres, which makes it easy to combine two or three destinations without going back to the airport.

Climate by region. The north, from Bilbao to Galicia, is Atlantic, damp and mild, much like the Aquitaine coast. The Mediterranean is dry and sunny for most of the year. The interior and Andalusia go above 40°C in high summer and turn cold in winter.

The currency is the euro, and plug sockets are types C and F, at 230V. Spanish (Castilian) is the official language, with co-official languages in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia.

What to do in Spain

City breaks: Barcelona and Madrid

Barcelona mixes Modernista architecture, a city beach and a cultural calendar that never really stops, with the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell as the must-sees. Madrid packs the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen into less than 1 km, and Toledo and Segovia are half an hour away by train.

The south: Seville and Malaga

Seville brings together the Real Alcázar, the Giralda, flamenco and Andalusian courtyards. It is best in spring or autumn, as the summer heat is crushing. Malaga adds the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba and the Costa del Sol, with the white villages of the Serranía de Ronda an hour away.

The green north: Bilbao and Galicia

The part of Spain that looks most like south-west France: green, Atlantic and with a food culture that can hold its own against it. Bilbao has the Guggenheim and the pintxos of the Casco Viejo, while Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the Camino with a cathedral that is a World Heritage Site.

The islands

The Balearic and Canary Islands are reachable direct from Bordeaux, with no stop on the mainland. Palma de Mallorca pairs a medieval old town with the Serra de Tramuntana, and Ibiza brings the coves and the nightlife. Tenerife and Gran Canaria come into their own in the middle of winter, with Mount Teide as the landmark.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

Cabin luggage is enough for a city weekend. A week on the coast or a family trip is another matter, and you will want to check a bag. Deciding as you book saves surprises at the desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.